Monday's World Cup game a virtual must-win for U.S., Ghana

Updated 11:11 am, Monday, June 16, 2014

Jozy Altidore has 23 goals in 70 games with the U.S. national team. He didn't score in the 2010 World Cup.

Jozy Altidore has 23 goals in 70 games with the U.S. national team. He didn't score in the 2010 World Cup.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 09: Jozy Altidore of the United States runs drills during their training session at Sao Paulo FC on June 9, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 09: Jozy Altidore of the United States runs drills during their training session at Sao Paulo FC on June 9, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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Light rain falls as United States' Jozy Altidore stretches during a training session at the Sao Paulo FC training center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, June 10, 2014. The U.S. will play in group G of the 2014 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) less

Light rain falls as United States' Jozy Altidore stretches during a training session at the Sao Paulo FC training center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, June 10, 2014. The U.S. will play in group G of the 2014 ... more

Photo: Julio Cortez, Associated Press

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United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, left, laughs during an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) less

United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, left, laughs during an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in ... more

Photo: Julio Cortez, Associated Press

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United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann juggles a soccer ball before an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) less

United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann juggles a soccer ball before an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas ... more

Photo: Julio Cortez, Associated Press

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United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann heads a soccer ball during an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) less

United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann heads a soccer ball during an official training session the day before the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in ... more

Photo: Julio Cortez, Associated Press

Monday's World Cup game a virtual must-win for U.S., Ghana

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Considering that Germany and Portugal lie ahead in group play, the loser of Monday's World Cup match between the United States and Ghana is probably cooked.

Anything less than the three points for a win at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, likely would kill either team's hopes for reaching the second stage, the Round of 16.

Two days of heavy rain have prompted a flood alert in the Natal and raised worries that the weather could affect the match.

Team USA's previous two World Cup campaigns were ended by Ghana's Black Stars, but some of the Americans have said any thoughts of payback will be on the back burner. They need a win or they'll face a steep uphill climb.

For that matter, Ghana has just as big a World Cup ax to grind at the U.S. The best performing African team in the past two Cup tournaments, it was denied a spot in the semifinals four years ago in South Africa.

In that match, Asamoah Gyan failed to convert a penalty kick, hitting the crossbar, following a handball by Uruguay's Luis Suarez that denied Ghana a go-ahead goal in extra time. Uruguay would win in a penalty shootout.

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Gyan, 28, scored three goals in the tournament, one coming in extra time to eliminate the U.S. in the round of 16.

It will be Team USA's first World Cup match under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The German replaced Bob Bradley three years ago.

"We don't look at ourselves as underdogs," Klinsmann said. "We are not. We are going to take the game to Ghana and they will take it to us and it will be an exciting game, and then we go from there."

It also will be the team's first World Cup match without Landon Donovan since 1998. The team's all-time leader in scoring and assists, Donovan didn't make the 23-man roster, leaving Klinsmann open for second-guessing if his team doesn't play well.

Ghana head coach Kwesi Appiah, an assistant at the last World Cup, is known among his players as the "Silent Killer" for his stoic personality.

Additionally, striker Abdul Majeed Waris, who scored nine goals in 16 appearances for Valenciennes in France's Ligue 1 during a six-month period, returned from an injury quicker than expected.

"It's a team full of individual talent with players, certain players that can hurt you in a split-second if you're not alert, if you're not awake," Klinsmann said.

Both teams have had concerns about their back lines. But the outcome very well might be decided in the midfield, where Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones will take on Essien and Muntari.

The U.S. needs a big game from striker Jozy Altidore, who scored twice in a 2-0 win over Nigeria in the final warm-up. That ended his six-month, 27-game scoreless drought for the U.S. and Sunderland in the English Premier League.

In the 2010 World Cup, Altidore didn't score in four games. In fact, the U.S. has not had a goal from a striker since Brian McBride scored against Mexico in the knockout round in 2002.